Did I mention it was HOT?!?!!?!

Sarah and I made it through the last rest stop with minutes to spare.  The staff had determined it was too hot and for safety reasons would be closing the route.  Anyone still at the rest stop in 5 minutes would be bussed in.  With only 2 miles to camp we quickly filled our water bottles and hustled out of there.

Compared to the day before it was chilly! We were happy to finish the rest of the day and get to walk into camp, an experience that a lot of Boston walkers missed this year.  We arrived at camp and visited the Bank of America massage tent.  Massage chairs with leg/foot massagers YES PLEASE! Five minutes never passed so quickly.

Our tent had been cooking in the sun all day.  We quickly grabbed our shower stuff to clean up.  Everything was like lava!!!  As soon as I opened my face wash it poured out like water and was SO DARN HOT!   I couldn’t help but laugh.  The moisture strip on my razor was completely melted off and all over everything.  The kicker? My deodorant was melted into the cap and I had to scoop it out – better than some others that to scoop it off the floor HA!  (note to self – bring a back up of these it’s kinda important!) The adventures of the walk – never a dull moment.

Uhhh..where did it go?

My best investment for the walk this year was a battery powered fan.  Sure it took 8D batteries but I couldn’t imagine this year without it.  Although it was hot and we had our bumps along the way I had an absolute blast.  I only got one blister and my joints didn’t bother me half as much as they did last year.

900 Miles Closer to a Cure

At dinner on Day 2 the speaker asked all of those walking alone to stand up.  I was surprised to see so many people stand.  This is such a task – and to go into it alone?   Now don’t get me wrong, with 1300 walkers you are rarely alone but there’s something about having a friend nearby even if you’re not talking to them. 

Day 3 we met one of these brave souls that was walking it alone, his name was Jim.  Jim told us he was from California, in fact right after he finished his 20 miles for the day he would be heading straight to the airport to get on a flight home and going to work the next day!   I was impressed.

<- Jim

Later he told us how he signed up to walk all 15 cities this year – that’s 900 miles – 60 miles over consecutive weekends. One walk was cancelled so now it’s down to 840 mile – but that just doesn’t have the same ring.  I’m walking next to him trying to wrap my head around the logistics.  Travel time, costs, time off from work – and not to mention raising all the money and walking all that way.  How many pair of sneakers would he walk through?!

Jim told us how he lost his mom to breast cancer and that’s why he walks.  That’s why he’s walking in all of these cities.  To date Jim has raised over $27,000. His goal is $50,000 but he needs to raise a minimum of $32,200 to be eligible to walk in all cities.  I have no doubt he will reach him minimum. 

So I’m making a donation and spreading his message.  He’s also looking for people to host him the evening before the events or assist with transportation to and from the airport. For more info visit his site.  He has loads of pictures and stories – that’s where I snagged the shot of me below J

Drink, Pee, and Avoid the IV!

As many of you have heard the weather was HOT to say the least.  Friday's weather hit 106 with the heat index by 11am.  The crew, staff and walkers were reminded regularly to hydrate, relieve and repeat.  In one stop we were told if we do not pee at the next stop we must see medical.  I’ve never had anyone so concerned with my bathroom visits! Friday alone sent over 15 people to the hospital and several more received an IV at rest stops or camp.  At 11am, it was so hot they closed the route. 

We were about 11.5 miles into the walk and only 400 out of 1700 walkers had made it to that point. Too many people were dropping and walkers were moving extremely slow so they had to made the call.  A lot of people were disappointed, particularly those that were attempting this adventure for the first time.  I for one was a little relieved that the choice was made for me and I didn’t have to make it myself.  We were bused to a park with a lot of shade and waited for them to move lunch to us.  It was a lot of sitting and waiting.  When we finally arrived at camp we weren’t allowed to set up our tents.  Tent city was located in the middle of athletic fields in the dead sun.  Walkers might have been tempted to lay down for a little nap and that’s a recipe for disaster. 

The staff continued to stress the heat and how important it was to listen to your body.  Not only is it important to drink sports drinks and water but it was also important to eat salty snacks to keep your sodium levels normal. All and all I was successfully able to maintain my levels and avoid the IV.  I was also able to finish the rest of the walk with only one blister care stop, completing about 52 miles!

I’ll be writing a little more over the next couple of weeks to share my experience and the amazing people I have met.  Thank you all for your support and best of luck to the remaining 13 cities!!

Day 1!!!

I wanted to post while on the walk but unfortunately my phone just isn’t up to the task and I can’t quite seem to get it to work.  You’ll have to settle for last year’s photo of me at the starting line.  We’ll be there before the sun rises ready to roll! Everyone starts together and finishes together, it’s pretty awesome!   I will be time delaying a few of these posts and updating facebook as long as my phone battery holds on.  I hope the weather isn’t as brutal as they predict.   

It’s going to be HOT HOT HOT

The National Weather Service has issued a Local Weather Alert: ... EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * HAZARDS... EXCESSIVE HEAT WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 95 AND 100 THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON/S. * HEAT INDEX VALUES... UP TO 105 DEGREES. * TIMING... THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS MAINLY FROM NOON TO 8 PM EACH DAY. * IMPACTS... EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY LEAD TO HEAT ILLNESSES FOR CHILDREN... THE ELDERLY AND THOSE PERFORMING STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY.

So….what does that mean??? It means we’ll need to be extra careful and hydrate hydrate hydrate!   They advise you to take in extra fluids in the days leading up to the walk as well.   If the hot day doesn’t get to you, it might hit you the following day.  I’ll have to remember to keep on drinking even after I get back to camp and start all over again the following morning.

This pink walker will be fueled on lots of water, salty snacks and gaterade this weekend (with a DD ice coffee in there too of course).  

 

My bags are packed I'm ready to go!!

I'm all packed! My bag is weighing in at 36.8 pounds.....don' tell anyone it's overweight - it might get self conscious! The big difference in the pack this year is a battery powered fan - it takes eight D batteries EIGHT!!! My goodness, but with the heat advisory it's a must have as is a spare set.  So the 16 D batteries is weighing me down a little but I know I'll be glad to have it.

Yesterday I treated myself to a few pink hair extensions to really get in the spirit! Don't worry Mom they are temporary.

Money raised, bags packed, appropriately fun hair.......looks like I'm good to go!  Thank you all for you support. See you on the other side of 60 miles!! 

Pink Men

Here are two of my favorite fans from last year’s walk.  I hope I get to see them again this weekend!   These guys started first thing outside of camp and were cheering us on all day at various parts of the route.  It’s amazing how much fans can brighten your spirits along the way.

There really is so much that goes into this walk and so many people that make it happen.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store this year!!